To wonder if you are against private schools…

[Unsrr]

Why is this? As in against their existence?

I was brought up in a reasonably poor area and my education was not good. I sometimes went to the nearest private school for swimming lessons and remember being in awe of it. We have one dc now age 7 and can’t afford private but there is maybe a chance we could for secondary. I wouldn’t give it a second thought if we could make it work.

I have never felt private schools should disappear because surely that’s what we should be aspiring to? An education that is excellent (yes I know not all private schools are good and lots of state schools are better), isn’t that what we should aim for?

I feel sad that this country has now made it harder to access this education. What is the reason people are against private schools existing at all? I don’t think it can be jealousy, I think many people are genuinely opposed to it from an ideological perspective and I can’t understand it at all. Just interested really as there’s been so much talk about schools recently.

More to the point, why do we let a small number of violent, bad kids disrupt the education of the pupils who want to work? Expel the bad kids and demand for private schools will drop dramatically.

Gosh. You sound very Trumpian.

@OonaStubbs i agree the disruptive students need speedy intervention. Psychiatric assessments and treatment plans, a huge problem is long delays in seeing specialist Dr.’s. and Educational Psychologists.

Same here but my kids are in private due to developing EBSA, bullying and various other things. It's not about academics in our case.

Expel them where Oona?

I'm not against them. I wish every child could have access to the best education. I don't think getting rid of private schools would make that happen.

I don't bother to check grammar properly online or in texts but do when I'm teaching.

This is a big jump from my comment!

I'm against them for many different reasons but ultimately they deplete society. They segregate, they provide educational capital for the elite at the expense of the poor. Countries with a high standard of education for all are much healthier psychologically and socially eg Finland.

There is a distinct difference between the need to adequately fund state schools and improve the outcomes of some vs saying all schools ‘should aspire to like private schools’. I don’t think the later at all.

My kids went to an outstanding state and did exceptionally well (DD left this summer with 12 x grade 9’s). We probably could have afforded private, but saw no reason to. DD declined a grammar school for sixth form to stay at her 6th form. Nothing against private, but many people are quick to dismiss state schools, I think it equips kids for real life post school a lot more than a private school.

Please can someone explain how getting rid of private schools magically creates excellent state schools? Is it by osmosis? Is no intervention required (oh, other than the 6/7% private school parents doing some jiggery-pokery to raise standards - which never quite gets explained)?

Why can't government just make state schools better and leave private schools alone? Are the 93% so ineffective that this is impossible?

Or is the real answer that getting rid of private schools is ideological and not at all related in practical terms to the poor performance of state schools?

And that's great for your kids. Can you understand that not all kids can thrive in a large, busy 1000+ setting? Can you understand that not all parents can access an outstanding school and even if they can it may not cater to their needs? I don't understand the "real life" comment either. Private school kids' worlds are just as real as anyone else's.

I went to private school and tbh it fucked me up but I don't think they should be banned.

Around 450 kids take 12 or more GCSEs let alone get 9s in all of them so that's really not standard.

I dislike the two separate systems of schools. However, I also think tax extra is not good.

Both my DC went to Private secondary and I really wish it hadn't been necessary. I wish all DC could get the education and overall school experience my kids did and I wish they could have got it without it costing us a fortune.
I am sure some State schools are good enough but the one we had available just isn't and I know this because I am a Governor there.
Of course we could have moved but we love our house and where we live and preferred to pay for Private school instead.
No regrets

Government should put priority on education when budgeting! Sadly even with such big budget, education still just gets crumbs!

I don't support the idea of private schools but if you can afford them then it's very hard to say no to when it could open up choice and opportunity for your children. For my children the high levels of sport and physical activity were hugely beneficial and I believe they have done much better than they would have at our local mediocre comprehensive. But it doesn't stop me feeling really sad that a lot of children are not achieving their potential at crap schools and cross at the government for continual under investment in education.

Thank you! This is our experience 100%. Private schools - like Micaela - simply have much more discipline and therefore much more respect for teachers and fellow pupils. The bullying and disruption was massive in my child’s state school. So far removed from the excellent state education I received in a deprived catchment. My child has experienced no disruption or bullying in private whatsoever. I would LOVE to be able to send my child to a state school where kids who are keen to learn are prioritised. Instead the state school was like a mini social work centre. Actual teaching was very low down the list of things the school prioritised and this was meant to be an outstanding school.

We need to add a lot to the basic rate of tax before the state school system is even remotely adequately funded. Until then so many kids are being failed. Every kid has a right to an excellent education. Until the government sees this though I’ll do the best for my child - it would be immoral to do otherwise - and pay privately for a proper education.

Private schools - like Micaela - simply have much more discipline and therefore much more respect for teachers and fellow pupils.

Michaela is a state school, and operates a bit like a cult.

There are plenty of rich parents with kids at state schools!!!

Just as some of the state school kids would be useless too. What a ridiculous generalisation.

I know that. That’s why I said “private schools - like Michaela”, rather than “private schools like Michaela”. I would accept a place in Michaela in a shot. My child would love it. They see rules as things to be respected and followed. So what if individualality is quashed. My children get enough of that in their spare time. I want a school to teach them stuff in a safe, calm environment.

I don't think private schools operate in the same way as Michaela and I'm pretty sure that private school parents wouldn't stand for it if they did.